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He toed the clean floor, tracing a grain of wood with his boot. “We’ll find your brother. You know that, right?”
“I believe you.” She might not know much about the secretive man, but she knew he wouldn’t make a promise he didn’t intend to keep. And she knew he and his crew would never leave a teammate behind.
“Good. Great.” He raised his eyes to meet hers.
The brief contact sent a jolt of longing through her.
He pulled out his keys. “It’s a long way home. We’d better get on the road.”
Tai winced, as if someone had just stomped on his foot. “I forgot my bag,” he said. “I’ll be right out.”
Bridger spun his keyring around his finger. “It’s been great getting to know you. Your brother’s really proud of you. I can see why. Take care, Jane. As soon as we have some leads on Jay, we’ll let you know.”
He spun around and headed out the door without a backward glance.
Jane screwed her eyes shut, willing away the sharp ache in her throat. They barely knew each other. She had no reason to feel so empty at the loss.
Not that reason had anything to do with falling in love. Because she was definitely in love with the man. He was just her style. Strong. Intelligent. And completely unavailable.
From the window, she watched him climb into his Jeep, her body numb. Forgetting Bridger North would take a very long time.
Fabric rustled behind her, then Tai was at her side, his backpack slung over his shoulder. “I know he likes to pretend he’s the last of the hardcore loners, but my man’s better boyfriend material than he looks. Just saying.”
“Thanks for the tip, but your friend there’s not looking for company.”
“Oh he’s looking. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
She shot Tai a look.
“He’s smart. Don’t get me wrong. He can read people like books. But my boy Bridger couldn’t sort out his own feelings if his hair was on fire.”
Tai’s down home-isms continually surprised her. But this time, she knew what he meant. Bridger North might be a gifted leader and a scary-good interpreter of others, but until the man let go—until he allowed himself to be vulnerable—there’d be no happily ever after.
Tai pulled her into his arms for a rib cracking hug. “Until next time, Miss Jane Reilly. Don’t stop believing.” He winked and disappeared out the door.
As the Jeep barreled off down the drive, she lifted a prayer for Jason, and for the dedicated team planning to find him. And maybe, just maybe, could the Lord lead Bridger to find the answer to his own prayers in a little place like Redemption Creek?
39
Bridger had barely madeit to the end of Jane’s driveway when his phone dinged. A text from Paige.
I have a lead on Jason. Rosalind isn’t a person. We’re waiting at the airport. Get here ASAP.
Tai grinned hard. “Let’s do this, bro.”
While Bridger accelerated, Tai let her know they were on their way.
The jet sat out on the tarmac, fueled and ready for flight, but the team had gathered in Jason’s hangar. Paige had her computer out on the big drafting table. Kate and Fenn flanked her. Mason had his back to them, polishing the one good wing on the Mustang.
“Rosalind’s a place,” she said the minute Bridger and Tai entered the hangar. “Look.”
She angled the screen toward them. Bridger leaned in to study the map and the red dot in the center. “It’s an old abandoned airfield about two hours south of here by car.”
Bridger’s pulse kicked up. Maybe he wasn’t heading home just yet.
“We should stay,” Tai said without prompting.
Mason turned back toward the group. “We should tell them.”
